The art of Ombré Balayage at home

If you dye your hair frequently roots peeking out never use to be a good thing. That is until the Ombré Balayage trend started taking over. What is Ombré Balayage, you ask? It is the gradual lightening of the hair strand, usually fading from a darker color near the roots to a lighter one at the ends. The word ombre is a French word meaning “as two-toned”. Ombre can be very subtle or very striking.

If you get your color done at the salon, be sure to ask for someone who specializes in Ombré Balayage. Be prepared for your coloring process to take a little longer than normal. What’s great about hitting the salon is that the colorist can assist you with picking the right colors to achieve this look. Your end goal is to have the color applied to areas of the hair that would naturally change with exposure to the sun, the front and side mid-lengths as opposed to the roots which generally tend to be more resilient to exposure from the sun.”

When you are attempting balayage at home, you want to look for a color that has a crème formulation that allows a very precise application. Basically this type of color is less runny than the standard color. One brand to try is Nice and Easy Permenent Hair Color Creame.

In addition to that, be sure to pick up your basic hair color kit, a towel and some hair clips such as bobby pins so you can apply the ombre color and be very strategic in the areas you want to lighten.

Here’s what you need to do: Section your hair using the “hot cross bun” technique. Divide your hair into four sections by running the comb down the center of your head then ear to ear. This will make it much easier to work with your hair when it is in sections. Here’s the skinny on how to pull this off. And the best part-you can rock a “hot cross bun hairstyle after your color has been completed.

Pull a section of hair from the side of your head with the most hair. Without twisting this section, pull it across your head and secure it on the opposite side with bobby pins. Repeat this same action with a piece of hair from the other side. Conceal the bobby pins as best as you can and tuck the end pieces under the already secured sections of hair. It’s not too big of a deal if the bobby pins show, but a little concealing action doesn’t hurt.

Repeat the same process you did in step two with an additional two sections of hair from either side of your head. You could potentially stop here and wear your hair “half up,” or you can keep going.

You’ve got the hot crossed sections, now it’s time to do your bun! Before we do that, though, first bring the rest of your hair together into a low ponytail. Then, gently wrap your hair around the base of your ponytail to create a simple twisted bun. Tuck in any stray pieces in both your crisscrossed section and bun. Lightly spritz some hairspray to hold everything into place and then go about your day

• To get the ombre balayage effect, apply the color on the longest part of your hair. Stay far away from the roots or you won’t get the look you are trying to achieve. Use bobby pins/ponytail holders to secure the hair while you are working through each section.
• Do not rub the color on the scalp or roots, Don’t use a brush to apply color. Using your fingers will help achieve the most natural look.
• Think smooth downward strokes when you are applying the color.
• Work color through the hair strands in each section to ensure full saturation.
• If any color gets on the skin, wipe it off immediately.

Ombré Balayage typically can take up to an hour. It just depends on what look you are going for. Sectioning the hair takes the most time to ensure you are doing it right. Think the longer the better when doing balayage at home. Expert tip-Do a strand test beforehand to determine the exact time frame you should leave your color on for. This way you know how your hair responds to the color and you will be happy with the end result. Don’t wash your hair for 2-3 days. Be sure to use Olea E Shampoo and Conditioner. The Olive Conditioner revitalizes and regenerates dry and damaged hair. Its texture completes the shampoo’s action, regenerates damaged hair, dry, dull or treated thanks to its Natural Virgin Olive Oil formula. The effect is immediate. A softening action, nutritive and disentangling, in just a few minutes you feel a hydrating sensation.

Uniquely formulated with natural olive extract rich in Vitamins E to help protect hair from environmental damage. Delivers significant antioxidant and moisturizing properties to provide luster and elasticity to dull, damaged hair. It makes the scalp and hair feel revitalized, soft and healthy.